A billion carbon credits ago Al Gore didn’t exist.
Interesting. I’m in my early 30s and remember when I was a child during the Reagan years, and on the politicians and commentators mentioned something costing in the tens or hundreds of millions and people were amazed at the expense. Now, it seems people are desensitized with the numbers. A billion, ten billion, a hundred billion, half a trillion, and even a trillion. The American people just no longer care. This creates an environment where when someone hears of a pork project in some congressional district costing $50 million, they just don’t care because $50 million seems like nothing compared to the billion and trillion numbers I just mentioned, that get thrown around in budget talks like it’s nothing.
What’s funny is NONE of this money exists in reality. It’s all a bunch of IOUs back by the federal reserve printing a bunch of worthless paper.
YES, we ARE headed for hell in our hand basket. Call your congressman and thank them.
The American billion is small compared to the British one. :)
I prefer to think of a billion dollars given away by Congress in this context:
You and your spouse have two kids, one 4 yrs and one in diapers.
When Congress gives away one Billion dollars, it costs you and your spouse 3 dollars each and it’s 3 dollars out of your 4 year old’s allowance and 3 dollars out of your newborn’s diaper.
If the numbers get too high or you don’t personally pay a lot of tax, the Congressional giveaways just add to the deficit.